Hunting on Small Farms
Filed under: Ask Grant, Hunting Tactics
Dr. Grant, I live in Ohio and I own 33 acres of woods that are surrounded by hundreds of acres. I have had a camera over a corn pile for about 2 months now. I keep getting the same three 3-year old bucks every day (as well as a lot of yearling bucks). Do you believe that these are the only 3-year old bucks living within my 33 acres? The biggest buck is 130” which is not a shooter for me. Would I have the best chance to get a mature buck by waiting for the rut? How many acres on average do bucks travel during the rut? My hope is to catch a mature buck looking for does on my land. Also, I am afraid of shooting does on such a small property until I get a buck first. What are your thoughts? Thanks! Brent
Brent,
Certainly the deer using your land are also using the neighboring properties. So the odds of you harvesting a mature buck are somewhat impacted by the harvest guidelines your neighbors use. For example, if they never pass a three year old buck, then your chance of harvesting a four year old or older buck is slim. Some bucks do travel further during the rut, but those trips are usually only for a day or two. That means it’s a matter of you being hunting at the right time.
I think it’s important to enjoy the hunt. If you enjoy waiting on a four year old or older buck, great! However, there’s nothing wrong with legally harvesting a three year old buck, especially from a smaller sized farm! So, make sure you are enjoying the hunt no matter where you decide to set your personal harvest goals!
Growing Deer together,
Grant
